Cost of selling a house in the ACT
In short
Selling a house in the ACT costs about 2.2% in agent commission (2% to 2.5%), $600 to $10,000 in marketing and $700 to $2,000 in conveyancing. On a $1,020,000 sale, the ACT mean dwelling price, that is roughly $27,740 to an agent before conveyancing, against helm's $749 paid once.
On this page
Agent commission in the ACTMarketing costs in the ACTLegal costs and the ACT paperworkWorked example: a typical ACT saleCooling-off in the ACTSelling without an agent in the ACTFrequently asked questionsCost of selling in the other statesSourcesSelling a house in the ACT has three main costs: the agent's commission, the marketing budget and the legal work. Only the legal work is required by law; the other two are negotiable. This page has the current numbers, the ACT paperwork rules, and a worked example on a typical ACT sale, so you can see what an agent would cost on a home like yours before you ask anyone for a quote.
Figures checked 3 September 2026. Sources are listed at the bottom.
Agent commission in the ACT
The average commission in the ACT is about 2.2% of the sale price, with quotes typically running 2% to 2.5%. Commission is negotiable everywhere in Australia, and it is only paid if the property sells.
The calculator below opens on the ACT average and the state's mean dwelling price. Put your own price and rate in.
Pre-filled with the ACT average rate and mean dwelling price. Rates are negotiable, so change either if you know yours.
On a sale of
$1,020,000
Agent commission
2.2% + GST
$22,440
Marketing campaign
Charged on top, midpoint of the ACT range
$5,300
Agent total
$27,740
With helm instead
One flat fee, paid once, listed until sold. Founding price, available for a limited time. We'll give notice before it ends.
You'd keep
$26,991
Marketing costs in the ACT
Agents usually ask for a marketing budget up front, and you pay it whether or not the property sells. In the ACT that runs $600 to $10,000 depending on the campaign: portal listing upgrades, photography, a signboard, print, and sometimes styling on top.
This is the line item sellers most often miss when they compare a percentage fee to a flat one, because it never appears in the commission rate.
Legal costs and the ACT paperwork
A complete contract with the prescribed documents has to exist before the property is advertised, under the Civil Law (Sale of Residential Property) Act 2003. That means the Crown lease, the title, a building and compliance report, a timber pest report and an energy efficiency rating statement, with the rating quoted in every advertisement. Report packages run about $1,250 to $1,900, and the buyer is usually required to reimburse the seller for them at settlement.
Conveyancing for a seller in the ACT typically costs $700 to $2,000 in professional fees, plus searches and government charges. You pay this whether you sell with an agent or privately, so it is not part of the comparison below.
Worked example: a typical ACT sale
Take a $1,020,000 sale: the ABS mean dwelling price for the ACT, $1,018,000 in March quarter 2026, rounded to the nearest $5,000.
| What you pay | Cost |
|---|---|
| Commission at 2.2% | $22,440 |
| Marketing (midpoint of the ACT range) | $5,300 |
| Agent total, before conveyancing | $27,740 |
| helm, paid once, before conveyancing | $749 |
Conveyancing is extra in both columns and costs about the same either way. The difference is what you are paying someone to do the marketing, the inspections and the negotiation for you. See what helm includes.
Founding price, available for a limited time. We'll give notice before it ends.
Cooling-off in the ACT
A buyer gets 5 business days after exchange, and forfeits 0.25% of the price if they walk. There is no cooling-off at auction, or where a waiver certificate is given. Worth knowing before you accept an offer, because it changes when a sale is actually a sale.
Selling without an agent in the ACT
It is legal to sell your own home in the ACT. The legal requirements are about the contract and the disclosure, not about who runs the campaign. The one thing you cannot do as an individual is list directly on realestate.com.au or Domain, which only accept listings from licensed agents. helm's listings reach both portals through a licensed agent on the helm team, and you run the sale yourself. How that works .
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to sell a house in the ACT?
On a $1,020,000 sale, the ACT mean dwelling price, an agent costs roughly $27,740 before conveyancing: $22,440 of commission at the 2.2% state average, plus about $5,300 of marketing. Conveyancing adds another $700 to $2,000 whichever way you sell.
What is the average real estate agent commission in the ACT?
About 2.2% of the sale price, with quotes typically running 2% to 2.5%. Commission is negotiable in the ACT, and it is only paid if the property sells.
Can you sell a house without an agent in the ACT?
Yes. The ACT rules govern the contract and the disclosure, not who runs the campaign. The one thing an individual cannot do is list directly on realestate.com.au or Domain, which only accept listings from licensed agents. helm reaches both portals through a licensed agent on the helm team while you run the sale yourself.
How long is the cooling-off period in the ACT?
A buyer gets 5 business days after exchange, and forfeits 0.25% of the price if they walk. There is no cooling-off at auction, or where a waiver certificate is given.
Cost of selling in the other states
The commission averages, the marketing ranges and the paperwork all change at the border. Here are the figures and the paperwork for every other state and territory.
Sources
Figures are ranges rather than single numbers, because the underlying surveys disagree and prices move every quarter. Commission, marketing and the ACT legal position were all checked 3 September 2026.
- Access Canberra Reality Check guide, and Elringtons on ACT contracts
- Mozo conveyancing costs, June 2026, and Unreserved legal fees by state, August 2026
- Averages from OpenAgent's state pages (August 2026), ranges cross-checked against the bRight Agent 2026 State of the States report and LocalAgentFinder (February 2026). Marketing ranges from OpenAgent (December 2025).
- ABS Total Value of Dwellings, March quarter 2026, released 9 June 2026. The national mean is $1,111,100.
helm does not value properties or give price guidance. The mean dwelling price here is published ABS data, quoted so the worked example has a realistic number in it. Your own sale price will differ.
This page is general information about selling costs in the ACT, not legal advice. Property law differs between states and territories and changes over time, so confirm the requirements for your property and your situation with a licensed conveyancer or solicitor.